# NTSB MIA00LA195: Cessna 402C, N7037E, Naples, FL, June 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2000, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Naples, FL - Coordinates: 26.150106, -81.7406 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1501&lon=-81.7406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA195 ## Probable cause an inflight collision with a bird during descent that resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's vertical stabilizer spar. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had the airport in sight, and was at 2,000 feet, descending to land, when he heard a loud noise, and felt the airplane shudder. He said that the aircraft controls were not affected, so he continued the descent, and made an uneventful landing. After securing the aircraft, the pilot noted that a large turkey buzzard had impacted the vertical stabilizer. A licensed aviation mechanic who examined the aircraft stated that the vertical spar had been bent as a result of the impact. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2000, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N7037E, registered to Hyannis Air Service, and operated by Cape Air, as a Title 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled domestic passenger commuter flight, from Key West, Florida, to Naples, Florida, experienced a bird strike during descent for a landing at Naples Municipal Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot, and four passengers were not injured, but the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Key West the same day, about 1215. The pilot stated that he was at an altitude of 2,000 feet, had cancelled his instrument flight rules flight plan, and had visually sighted Naples Municipal Airport when the bird strike occurred. He further stated that just prior to the bird strike, Naples Air Traffic Control Tower had pointed out traffic to follow, and while he was looking for the traffic, he heard a loud noise, and felt the airplane shudder. The pilot said he queried his passengers, who all said they heard the noise and felt the airplane shudder, but they had not seen anything. The pilot said that he did a quick visual inspection, but could not locate any point of impact, and the aircraft was flying normally, so he continued to the airport and landed. After taxiing to parking, and shutting down the airplane, the pilot said that a large turkey buzzard had impacted the vertical stabilizer, and was embedded in the stabilizer at its junction with the dorsal fin. A licensed aviation mechanic at a FAA approved repair station examined the aircraft, and verified that the vertical spar had been bent as a result of the bird strike. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7037E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7037E), registered now, S/N 402C0471, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C-0471 - Airframe hours: 18396 - Engines: Continental TSIO520VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Hyannis Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 27, 2000, 12 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: APF - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: APF, Naples Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 294 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: APF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000630011179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000630011179A), Jun 30, 2000: Cessna 402C, Naples, FL, No damage. (-23) Pilot departed key west inter. Airport on scheduled flight no.1212 at approx. 1215 hrs. LCL on an IFR flight plan for Naples muni airport. At 1225 hrs.… ## Other investigations on N7037E (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ERA23LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA257), Jun 4, 2023: Cessna 402 (N7037E), Charlotte Amalie, CB, minor damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while entering the traffic pattern. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.